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Thursday, September 21, 2000
Tong disappointed Amy Tong had to make a move quickly, and she did.
in judo loss
Vows to make it to Athens
Nakanelua running alongside Bailey
By Pat Bigold
Star-BulletinUnfortunately, it was a fatal move.
"I was being choked and didn't want to get choked so I rolled over," said the 22-year-old former Hawaii resident.
"And then she pinned me."
Tong was describing by phone from her room at Olympic Village in Sydney how her first Olympic judo venture ended.
After she was eliminated in 171-pound repechage (loser's bracket) competition on the pin by Romania's Simona Marcela Richter, Tong had a 1-2 record.
She vowed to be back for the U.S. in Athens in 2004.
"Definitely," said Tong, whose father, Samuel, is a former University of Hawaii football player. He now works for the U.S. Secret Service.
Amy Tong lost in her first match to Cuba's Diadenys Luna, bronze medalist in the world championships, on a penalty for stalling.
Tong then won her first repechage match on forfeit.
"The Canadian (Kimberly Ribble) who lost to the Cuban was supposed to fight me but she got hurt so I had a forfeit win," she said.
Tong sounded dejected on the phone but she put her failed bid in perspective.
"I know this is an experience I can build on," said the 5-foot-7 bronze medalist at the 1999 Pan American Games.
Hawaii's Olympians
COMPETING TODAY:
Beach volleyball: Honolulu's Kevin Wong and partner Rob Heidger begin second-round elimination play.
When to watch
TODAY
10 a.m.-noon; 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; 9:35 p.m.-11:05 p.m.
7 a.m.-2 p.m., repeats 9 p.m.-4 a.m.
2 p.m.-6 p.m.
O'Toole prediction panning out:
Former University of Hawaii athlete Maureen O'Toole said prior to the Olympics that the way head coach Guy Baker was working the U.S. water polo women, they might head into Sydney as the best conditioned team in the field.It looks like the 39-year-old legend of the sport might have been right.
The U.S. (3-1-1) is becoming one of the Cinderella stories of the Olympics, finishing second in preliminary play and opens medal-round play today against the third-place Netherlands (3-2-0).
The U.S. beat the Dutch, 6-4, on the first day of competition with O'Toole scoring the winning goal.
Hawaii's Chris Duplanty, a three-time Olympic player, is an assistant coach with the team.
O'Toole said her position in the pool these days is called playmaker.
"It's a little bit of everything," she said. "I play 2 meters, I'm a driver, an outside shooter."
She was also right when she said Australia could be the toughest team in the Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre pool.
The Aussies are 4-1-0 and topped prelim play. They were the only team to beat the U.S. (7-6).
Russia (2-2-1) faces Australia today.
Shoji watching:
University of Hawaii head volleyball coach Dave Shoji has been watching with increasing interest as the U.S. women's team increases its chances of winning its pool.The U.S. women, including former Wahine players Robyn Ah Mow and Heather Bown, stopped previously unbeaten Croatia two days ago as Bown put down match point.
They face Australia today. On Saturday, they meet Brazil on the last day of pool.
Myrdal, sailors wait for wind:
Kailua Laser sailor John Myrdal has another week of racing ahead of him but he's still waiting for the winds to kick up on Sydney Harbor. Conditions have been disappointing through the early races in various classes.Medals will be awarded Sept. 30 at the Sydney Opera House.